A member of Napoli defender Kim Min-jae’s entourage insists it is ‘not true’ that they have a deal with Manchester United. ‘Besides, they don’t even know if they’re in the Champions League yet.’
The South Korea international has been a rock in the back four for the side that won the Serie A title at a canter this season, as well as reaching the Champions League quarter-finals.
There had been reports that Manchester United made Kim Min-jae an impressive offer, while Napoli would be prepared to sell considering his release clause at circa €50m is active from next summer.
“It is not true that a deal has been done with Manchester United,” a member of Kim’s entourage told Star News Korea.
“Kim is concentrated on seeing out the season, besides which we still don’t know which English clubs will qualify for the Champions League next term.”
As the title-holders in Italy, Napoli will be top seeds in the Champions League draw for 2023-24.
“There is no rush for the future. United were interested in him when he was still in China, but we only ever chatted about that. I repeat, there has been no concrete contact. In any case he has to enrol for military service in June.”
All South Korean men must spend a certain amount of time doing military service, even if they are famous pop stars or professional football players.
Kim and the rest of the South Korea squad received an exemption from the full military service after winning the Asian Games in 2018, but the players including Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min still have to go through the three weeks of basic and reserve military training.
That will be between June and July, so should not affect Kim’s pre-season too much.